prone to indulge an inordinate desire of wealth : whilst those of the lowest rank are apt to yield to the unhallowed emotions of murmuring and discontent. When John the Baptist saw persons of different vocations coming to his baptism, he parti- cularly adverted to their respective occupations, to guard them against the evils incident to each ; warning the publicans against exaction, and the soldiers against rapacity ^ ; and thus shewing how all, in every department of life, are bound to watch against the sins to which their peculiar callings more immediately expose them. From our connexions and relations in life we also are subjected to many evils which tend to form and fix our character. Are we surrounded by those who are gay and dissipated 1 we are apt to contract a taste for gaiety and folly. Are our nearest relations worldly, carnal, covetous, ambitious? we are apt to drink into their spirit, and to be greatly influenced by their example : as it is said of Joram, king of Judah, " He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as dad the house of Ahab : for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord''."]
2. To which, from Inward dispositions, we are
most inclined —
[Even in the earliest infancy there will be found widely different dispositions in children of the same parents : and as the children grow up to manhood, these form, in a very great degree, their distinctive characters through life. Doubtless these dispositions may be abated in some, and strengthened in others, according to the occasions that may arise for their nourishment or suppression : they may also vary with the dif- ferent periods of their life. But, whatever be a man's leading disposition, it will expose him to temptation, and he will be likely to be betrayed into sin by means of those things which are calculated to gratify his peculiar desire. In other matters he may maintain a blameless deportment ; or, if he have erred, may easily renounce his errors : but on the side of his darling lust he will be in danger of falling ; even as Herod, who would obey in many respects the admonitions of John the Baptist^, but, when called to put away his beloved Herodias, would rather sacrifice the life of his Monitor than comply with his advice ? Let the besetting propensity be what it may, on that side will be our danger, and the sin arising from it is that which we need to guard against as most peculiarly our own.]
3. To which, /rom habit, we are most addicted —
[Habit is, indeed, a second nature ; and an Ethiopian may as easily change his skin, or a leopard his spots, as we can put
e Luke ill. 12 — 14. ^ 2 Kings viii. 18. s Mark vi. 18—28.